Bad reputations are often really hard to shake. Once set in place, people seem to have that same perception forever. I guess you can’t really blame them (we’re all guilty of holding onto what we know) but sometimes what we know is pretty far from the truth. Like people, certain foods can get thought the worst of. We think we know what they’re all about, but in reality, what we think of them is totally wrong. These foods have received a lot of criticism over the years, though most of it is undeserved (and somewhat harsh):

Chocolate

People think that because it’s so delicious, this temptress just has to be bad for you. Plus, it’s chock full of sugar. Well guess what chocolate, you can remove your scarlet letter. Studies show that a single serving of cocoa has more powerful antioxidants than green tea, black tea, and red wine. Plus chocolate boosts your memory, and is full of flavinoids, which help increase blood flow to the skin, making it look real nice. (Learn more about Chocolate)

Eggs

Sure, they’re jam-packed with cholesterol but that’s the only real downside. They’re one of the only foods to supply naturally occurring vitamin D, have only around 80 calories, and contain all nine essential amino acids. Suddenly, eggs aren’t sounding too bad, right? And, eggs are running some pretty good beauty promotions. They’re shown to promote healthy hair and nails because of their high sulfur content and numerous vitamins and minerals. (Learn more about Eggs)

Potatoes

Who knows, maybe they’re hated because they failed to grow one year. Or maybe it’s because they’re thought to raise blood sugar. Either way, poor potatoes are not received well in many homes, even though they should be. Potatoes are rich in immune boosting vitamin C, B, folate, and minerals such as iron, magnesium, and potassium. And, let’s not forget that they’re loaded with vitamin B6, which is needed for cell renewal and helps make adrenaline. (Learn more about Potatoes)

Beef

It’s what should (sometimes) be for dinner. At least add it back into your diet. Look, nothing is great for you every meal of every day, and beef’s exactly the same. Fun fact: without red meat, our brains would be ¼ of their size. So, thanks ancestors. Also, beef’s an excellent source of vitamin B12, which is only from animal sources, and essential for a healthy nervous system. It’s rich in zinc, iron, magnesium, linoleic and paliotelic acids, which are thought to have strong anti-cancer properties, helping fight against viruses and other pathogens. (Learn more about Beef)

Coffee

People think that coffee can lead to sleep loss. Yeah, you know it probably is when you drink 3 cups right before bedtime. So don’t. People who are habitual coffee drinkers (ahem) are less likely to have type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and fewer cases of certain cancers. Plus, caffeine is proven to not only boost your alertness, but your mood too. So go ahead, America, you keep running on coffee. (Learn more about Coffee)

About the Author:

"Katie Straw" is the Gourmet Scribe at GourmetGiftBaskets.com, one of the top suppliers of gift baskets in the nation, and currently resides in Manchester, New Hampshire.